I know this has been discussed before but i forgot what was said about them. I'm seriously thinking of trying a couple of these. I think this might be a good way of getting obscure types of aircraft in 1/18 scale.
There are zillions of choices of these models in 1/33 scale. My plan is to enlarge photocopy them up to 1/18 and then build them. I think, especially for large twins, heavies etc this may be the only realistic way of getting a model of them at anything approaching a reasonable price. (the cheapest source of a custom wooden model i have found wants over $1000 for something the size of a He-111). There is little hope of much in the way of twins and heavies in this scale from 21c, BBi etc. And even if there is one or two there will never be much selection. With paper models you could get pretty much anything you want (blohm und voss flying boat, anyone?)
I think that the cost of the 1/33 model, photocopying and any extra do dads you might need would be around $50 to $60 or so. Quite reasonable.
I've seen lots of pictures of built up paper models and they are surprisingly good....especially when viewed from a few feet away. The purests make everything, including prop blades, guns etc out of paper but if these items were replaced by xd guns, r/c props etc it would greatly add to the realism. You could even cut out the paper canopy and vacuform your own clear one, if so inclined.
Is there anyone who has built paper models before that can comment on how realistic my plan is of enlarge photcopying the 1/33 models and then building them? My biggest concern is whether the paper out of a photocopier will be stiff enough to build a decent model from.
Paper Models
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p51
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Personally, I would redo them in photoshop. Granted I'm a graphic designer and often work with CG aircraft models, so I can make my own paper models only using the smaller versions as shape references.
I've done a few paper models, but always in the 1/48 scale. Nothing any larget than that. They're loads of fun.
I thgink your plan would work... but the problem is that you may get distortion.
I've done a few paper models, but always in the 1/48 scale. Nothing any larget than that. They're loads of fun.
I thgink your plan would work... but the problem is that you may get distortion.
I love this book! I mentioned it a long time ago in another Paper plane thread. The planes are extremely well engineed in 1:48: Hellcat, P-40, BF-109, FW-190, Zero,Spitfire, Hurricane. And look at the price. Insane!!!!!!! There was also a book on Jets and historic aircraft. We're lucky it's still in print!!!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... s&n=507846
-Ski
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... s&n=507846
-Ski
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Aferg,
I think that copier paper is a bit too filmsy. After photocopying you'll still have to stick 'em on card or some other form of hard paper. A lot of these paper models are actually made out of card or thick paper. (Not sure exactly which type). Also, these models aren't all paper they do have plastic or wooden wheels and part of the ballast often have plastic parts as well. Another alternative would be to have the model co. email U the model after payment & you can resize 'em from there. Might be easier this way.
http://www.papermodels.co.il/
I think that copier paper is a bit too filmsy. After photocopying you'll still have to stick 'em on card or some other form of hard paper. A lot of these paper models are actually made out of card or thick paper. (Not sure exactly which type). Also, these models aren't all paper they do have plastic or wooden wheels and part of the ballast often have plastic parts as well. Another alternative would be to have the model co. email U the model after payment & you can resize 'em from there. Might be easier this way.
http://www.papermodels.co.il/
Most copiers can take light card stock, so this shouldn't be too much of a problem......buzzard wrote:Aferg,
I think that copier paper is a bit too filmsy. After photocopying you'll still have to stick 'em on card or some other form of hard paper. A lot of these paper models are actually made out of card or thick paper. (Not sure exactly which type). Also, these models aren't all paper they do have plastic or wooden wheels and part of the ballast often have plastic parts as well. Another alternative would be to have the model co. email U the model after payment & you can resize 'em from there. Might be easier this way.
http://www.papermodels.co.il/
-Ski
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75th Ranger
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it may be a good idea
Hey guys,
It may be a good idea...let me know if it works.
I was looking around that link site and saw that they even have a paper model of a landrover...which may be great for the Brit 1/18 figures...
http://www.papermodels.co.il/OtherKits.htm
what do you guys think....also some of the kits may be great to use as exploded vehicles..it all depends howl ong does it take to build them and how good do they actually look like in reality.
keep me posted,
HOOAH!
It may be a good idea...let me know if it works.
I was looking around that link site and saw that they even have a paper model of a landrover...which may be great for the Brit 1/18 figures...
http://www.papermodels.co.il/OtherKits.htm
what do you guys think....also some of the kits may be great to use as exploded vehicles..it all depends howl ong does it take to build them and how good do they actually look like in reality.
keep me posted,
HOOAH!
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75th Ranger
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thanks!....great input
Centone,
great stuff, now i maybe be able to give my 21st brits some vehicles...i only wish that they were all buy now items...i hate bids...I just want to buy it and that is it!..hahaha!
buy the way any other Brit 1/18 vehicles out there?
keep me posted.
HOOAH!
great stuff, now i maybe be able to give my 21st brits some vehicles...i only wish that they were all buy now items...i hate bids...I just want to buy it and that is it!..hahaha!
buy the way any other Brit 1/18 vehicles out there?
keep me posted.
HOOAH!
centone.....one concern i have is durability. Over time i wonder about the glue giving way, warping from humidity etc. How long have you had your models and how have the stood up over time?
My plan was to photocopy on paper and then glue it to bristolboard. I don't know of any glue that is durable enough and flexible enough to take the folding and bending required to make the model without having the paper separate from the bristolboard.
Would paper as thick as bristolboard work in a photocopier, ski?
I'm tempted to try these as for a reasonable price i could have a fairly decent 1/18 model of pretty much any airplane i want (or helicopter for that matter). The variety of card model kits available is astonishing....some really obscure subjects are covered.
My concerns are durability over time, sagging and warping of the model and finding a glue that can take the folding and bending without having the photocopied paper seperating from the bristol board.
If i can make this work it could be an affordable way of getting big planes like B-17's and Lancasters in this scale.
My plan was to photocopy on paper and then glue it to bristolboard. I don't know of any glue that is durable enough and flexible enough to take the folding and bending required to make the model without having the paper separate from the bristolboard.
Would paper as thick as bristolboard work in a photocopier, ski?
I'm tempted to try these as for a reasonable price i could have a fairly decent 1/18 model of pretty much any airplane i want (or helicopter for that matter). The variety of card model kits available is astonishing....some really obscure subjects are covered.
My concerns are durability over time, sagging and warping of the model and finding a glue that can take the folding and bending without having the photocopied paper seperating from the bristol board.
If i can make this work it could be an affordable way of getting big planes like B-17's and Lancasters in this scale.
Well, i've decided to take the plunge and try a card model (paper model).
I figured ships are an ideal subject matter for this medium, being mostly flat sides and square angles, so i ordered a 1/100 scale Flower Class Corvette model online. I will need to enlarge photocopy it by about 5.5 times to bring it to 1/18 scale, which, if you have a good quality original to work with, produces a copy of acceptable quality that is not too washed out. Any slight wash out is actually a good thing as it makes it look 'weathered' a bit.
Real Corvettes were about 200 feet long so my finished model will be a little over 10 feet in length! I already have a spot picked out for it. I have a soft spot in my heart for Corvettes as most of them were built here in Canada and the Canadian navy used large numbers of them to hunt Uboats during the war. Britain and the US used them in large numbers too.
Now i just need my 1/18 uboat to hunt!
Here's a link to the card model i bought:
http://www.hobbyfactory.com/product_inf ... f537d81fad
I figured ships are an ideal subject matter for this medium, being mostly flat sides and square angles, so i ordered a 1/100 scale Flower Class Corvette model online. I will need to enlarge photocopy it by about 5.5 times to bring it to 1/18 scale, which, if you have a good quality original to work with, produces a copy of acceptable quality that is not too washed out. Any slight wash out is actually a good thing as it makes it look 'weathered' a bit.
Real Corvettes were about 200 feet long so my finished model will be a little over 10 feet in length! I already have a spot picked out for it. I have a soft spot in my heart for Corvettes as most of them were built here in Canada and the Canadian navy used large numbers of them to hunt Uboats during the war. Britain and the US used them in large numbers too.
Now i just need my 1/18 uboat to hunt!
Here's a link to the card model i bought:
http://www.hobbyfactory.com/product_inf ... f537d81fad
i've just noticed that there is quite a big selection for armour card models available too. Most are in 1/25 scale and thus easily enlarged to 1/18 on a photocopier.
The biggest drawback of card models for armour is that the tracks and bogies don't look very good. But hulls etc are very well suited to this medium since they are for the most part all flats and angles. I was thinking that if you could scratchbuild/customize/modify tracks and bogies on your own and then use the card model for the rest of the vehicle you could have quite a variety of amour available for a reasonable cost.
There are a few card model kits that by using the 21c panzer IV chassis would be good (mobelwagen, wirblewind, hummel). It would be a heck of a lot easier to use a card model than to scratchbuild. However, if you wanted your model to be made out of plastic you could at least use the enlarged card model plans as templates to cut your plastic. Card models are so inexpenisve that this is quite feasible.
Also there is a good variety of armoured cars (russian, polish, german etc) and finding real wheels to use shouldn't be too difficult at all. They even have armoured trains and landing craft available!
The biggest drawback of card models for armour is that the tracks and bogies don't look very good. But hulls etc are very well suited to this medium since they are for the most part all flats and angles. I was thinking that if you could scratchbuild/customize/modify tracks and bogies on your own and then use the card model for the rest of the vehicle you could have quite a variety of amour available for a reasonable cost.
There are a few card model kits that by using the 21c panzer IV chassis would be good (mobelwagen, wirblewind, hummel). It would be a heck of a lot easier to use a card model than to scratchbuild. However, if you wanted your model to be made out of plastic you could at least use the enlarged card model plans as templates to cut your plastic. Card models are so inexpenisve that this is quite feasible.
Also there is a good variety of armoured cars (russian, polish, german etc) and finding real wheels to use shouldn't be too difficult at all. They even have armoured trains and landing craft available!
Thanks a lot Andrew! I just had to order $50 worth of ship models. I hope you are happy. Let the frustration begin. I KNOW I will be banging my head over these things. They ain't easy!!! You can get a couple free ones on the Digital Navy site here:
http://www.digitalnavy.com/
Check out the completed models. Absolutely insane!!
-Ski
http://www.digitalnavy.com/
Check out the completed models. Absolutely insane!!
-Ski
[url=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2869983520050168193AYuxRR][img]http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/8785/2869983520050168193S600x600Q85.jpg[/img][/url]
that's cool, Ski. What did you order?
I've decided that ships and armour are the best subjects for this medium. Airplanes just have too many double curves and paper is just not well suited to those types of shapes, no matter how skilled the builder is. I've examined a lot of pics of card model planes and they all look kind of rough, so i've decided not to get into aircraft card models.
But, ships and armour i'm for sure going to try. Tons of interesting subjects (including railway guns, landing craft, artillery pieces), reasonable prices and very good results are possible.
Check out this review of a Czech 38t card model. The results are surprsingly good.
http://www.cardmodelers.org/cittadino
I magnified the pics on my computer and even when super enlarged the model looks almost as good as a well built plastic kit.
I've decided that ships and armour are the best subjects for this medium. Airplanes just have too many double curves and paper is just not well suited to those types of shapes, no matter how skilled the builder is. I've examined a lot of pics of card model planes and they all look kind of rough, so i've decided not to get into aircraft card models.
But, ships and armour i'm for sure going to try. Tons of interesting subjects (including railway guns, landing craft, artillery pieces), reasonable prices and very good results are possible.
Check out this review of a Czech 38t card model. The results are surprsingly good.
http://www.cardmodelers.org/cittadino
I magnified the pics on my computer and even when super enlarged the model looks almost as good as a well built plastic kit.
I ordered a Japanese destroyer, US Fletcher class destroyer, the USS Helena, HMS Sirius, HMS Hood (I have a signed print of the last survivor) and the HMS Cambeltown (for another signed print from the raid on St Nazaire). They look real sharp and ready to be copied over and over, hehehehehe...........
I've had a real soft spot for ships for quite a while now. They are just too damn cool!
-Ski
I've had a real soft spot for ships for quite a while now. They are just too damn cool!
-Ski
[url=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2869983520050168193AYuxRR][img]http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/8785/2869983520050168193S600x600Q85.jpg[/img][/url]
I got my ships today and WOW!!!!! 
These things are going to be tough to make, but they are soooo cool!! Now to start photocopying...........
I would highly recommend these things to anybody. The engineering alone is just incredible. How do they do it?? Worth every friggin' penny!
Thanks Andrew for the URL. These things are right down my line, cheap and accurate as hell!!
-Ski
These things are going to be tough to make, but they are soooo cool!! Now to start photocopying...........I would highly recommend these things to anybody. The engineering alone is just incredible. How do they do it?? Worth every friggin' penny!
Thanks Andrew for the URL. These things are right down my line, cheap and accurate as hell!!
-Ski
[url=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2869983520050168193AYuxRR][img]http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/8785/2869983520050168193S600x600Q85.jpg[/img][/url]
ah bien sur, but of course..
My Flower class corvette, JS II and ZSU-23 came today. Very cool. Very tricky to make too but if one can do it i think they'll look pretty good. I'm going to blow them up to 1/18 as planned. The Corvette will be about 11 feet long....that will take all my engineering powers to complete.
My Flower class corvette, JS II and ZSU-23 came today. Very cool. Very tricky to make too but if one can do it i think they'll look pretty good. I'm going to blow them up to 1/18 as planned. The Corvette will be about 11 feet long....that will take all my engineering powers to complete.
I have now accumulated 6 different paper model 'kits'. I guess i better build one, huh. They are rather intimidating looking though.. 
I have a Russian IS-2, a Russian ZSU-23 aa tank, an Italian M13/40, a Canadian Navy Flower Class Corvette, a Russian Akula class ballistic missile sub and a double kit featuring German Type VIIC and Type IXC u-boats (one of each).
I've decided to do one of the U-boats once i wrap up my existing projects...probably the Type VIIC as it's smaller and will 'only' be about 12 feet long when completed. Since it's going to be made from heavy paper it won't weigh very much i don't think so i plan to hang it on one of my walls (a thirteen foot long one). Should look pretty cool. Unfortunately no torpedos came with the kit. Anyone know where i can get a 1/18 scale german torpedo?
I have a Russian IS-2, a Russian ZSU-23 aa tank, an Italian M13/40, a Canadian Navy Flower Class Corvette, a Russian Akula class ballistic missile sub and a double kit featuring German Type VIIC and Type IXC u-boats (one of each).
I've decided to do one of the U-boats once i wrap up my existing projects...probably the Type VIIC as it's smaller and will 'only' be about 12 feet long when completed. Since it's going to be made from heavy paper it won't weigh very much i don't think so i plan to hang it on one of my walls (a thirteen foot long one). Should look pretty cool. Unfortunately no torpedos came with the kit. Anyone know where i can get a 1/18 scale german torpedo?
I haven't started on any of the ships yet. I gotta get them copied first. Unfortunately, they are just too big for my printer...... errrr.........
-Ski
-Ski
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